John Clay's must-watch TV games for the 2014 college football season

Aug. 28: Texas A&M at South Carolina (6 p.m., SEC): Not just the start of the college football season, but the start of the SEC Network, the Mike Slive/ESPN combination that figures to fill conference schools' bank accounts far beyond the point of ridiculous.

Aug. 30: Florida State vs. Oklahoma State (8 p.m., ABC): The Seminoles begin defense of their national championship by taking on Oklahoma State at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Oklahoma State was picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 by conference media, but it is the first game of the season and close to home for the Cowboys. Also a look at Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, the FSU quarterback.

Sept. 13: Georgia at South Carolina (3:30 p.m., CBS): Early in the year, but still could decide the SEC East title. Georgia features standout tailback Todd Gurley. South Carolina lost quarterback Connor Shaw and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, overall No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, but Steve Spurrier is coming off three consecutive 11-win seasons.

Sept. 20: Clemson at Florida State (TBA): Florida State staked a claim to the national title by whipping the Tigers 51-14 at Clemson last season. This is Clemson's return trip, and the last time the teams met in Tallahassee, FSU won a 49-37 shootout.

Oct. 4: LSU at Auburn (TBA): This was the only regular-season game that Auburn lost a year ago, falling to LSU in Baton Rouge. Now Gus Malzahn and Co. get Les Miles' squad on the Plains. If it wasn't for Alabama, this would probably decide the SEC West.

Oct. 11: Oklahoma vs. Texas (TBA): New Texas coach Charlie Strong is welcomed to the "Red River" shootout. Strong has had a turbulent preseason reshaping the Longhorns in his image. Meanwhile, Oklahoma has emerged as a preseason national title pick.

Oct. 18: Baylor at West Virginia (TBA): In 2012 in Morgantown, West Virginia won 70-63. That was a football game. Not a basketball game. A football game. Last season, Baylor won 73-42 in Waco. You get the picture. One team will be trying to hold the other under 70 points.

Oct. 30: Florida State at Louisville (7:30 p.m., ESPN): Bobby Petrino's second act in Louisville could play to rave reviews if the Cardinals could find a way to upset the Seminoles before ESPN's Thursday Night cameras at Papa John's. Years ago, Petrino's predecessor, John L. Smith, knocked off Bobby Bowden and Florida State on a Thursday night in the 'Ville. A lot has happened since then.

Nov. 8: Alabama at LSU (8 p.m., CBS): Nick Saban takes the Crimson Tide to LSU for their annual SEC West grudge match. Alabama has won the last three meetings, including a 21-17 victory at Tiger Stadium in 2012. Alabama is the preseason No. 2 in the coaches' poll. This might be the only game the Tide has a chance to lose.

Nov. 8: Baylor at Oklahoma (TBA): Expected to be the top two teams in the Big 12, this could decide the title for a league that doesn't hold a title game.

Nov. 8: Ohio State at Michigan State (8 p.m., ABC): Rematch of last year's Big Ten title game, won 34-24 by Michigan State. Ohio State came into that game 12-0. With conference expansion and realignment, both are now in the Big Ten East. So this could decide a berth in the league title game.

Nov. 29: Auburn at Alabama (TBA): Forget the BCS title game, this was the game of the year in 2013, thanks to the weird circumstances at game's end when Auburn returned a missed field goal 100-plus yards for the winning score. It will be hard to top that one, but the Iron Bowl is always worth watching.